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The Federal Tap: Louisiana voters deciding first two congressional special elections of 2021

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March 20, 2021Issue No. 245

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Week in review
On tap next week

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Here's what happened in Federal politics last week.

Monday, March 15

Senate confirms Debra Haaland as Interior Department secretary

  • The Senate confirmed Rep. Debra Haaland (D-N.M.) as secretary of the interior on Mar. 15 by a vote of 51-40, making her the first Native American Cabinet secretary in U.S. history.
  • Four Republicans supported Haaland’s confirmation: Susan Collins (Maine), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), and Dan Sullivan (Alaska). Nine senators—six Republicans and three Democrats—did not vote.
  • A special election will be held to fill the vacancy in the New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District created by her departure.

Tuesday, March 16

Isabel Guzman confirmed as head of Small Business Administration

  • The Senate confirmed Isabel Guzman for administrator of the Small Business Administration by a vote of 81-17 on Mar. 16. During the Obama administration, Guzman served as the deputy chief of staff and senior advisor to the administrator of the Small Business Administration. Guzman previously worked as the director of the Office of the Small Business Advocate of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development in California.

Wednesday, March 17

Senate confirms Katherine Tai as U.S. trade representative

  • The Senate confirmed Katherine Tai as U.S. trade representative on Mar. 17 by a vote of 98-0. Two senators—a Democrat and an independent—did not vote. Tai is the only Biden Cabinet nominee to receive no opposition to her nomination with all 50 Republicans voting to confirm.
  • Tai has served as associate general counsel and chief counsel for China trade enforcement at the Office of the United States Trade Representative. In 2014, she began working as the chief trade counsel to the chairman and Democratic members of the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Thursday, March 18

Xavier Becerra confirmed as secretary of health and human services

  • The Senate confirmed Xavier Becerra as secretary of health and human services on Mar. 18 by a vote of 50-49. Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) was the only Republican to support his confirmation. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) did not vote.
  • Becerra was the fourth Cabinet member to be confirmed this week and the 20th overall.
  • California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) will name Becerra’s replacement for California attorney general.
  • Becerra was first appointed attorney general of California by Gov. Jerry Brown (D). Becerra previously served as a Democratic member of the U.S. House, representing California's 34th Congressional District, from 2013 to 2017. He also represented California's 31st Congressional District from 2003 to 2013 and California's 30th Congressional District from 1993 to 2003.

New Mexico, Ohio governors announce dates of upcoming congressional special elections

  • Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) announced on March 18 that the special election to fill the vacancy in Ohio’s 11th congressional district will take place on Nov. 2. The primary is scheduled for Aug. 3.
    • The election will fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Rep. Marcia Fudge (D) as secretary of housing and urban development in the Biden administration. The U.S. Senate voted 66-34 on March 10 to confirm Fudge.
  • Another congressional special election was announced this week in New Mexico to fill the 1st congressional district seat vacated by Rep. Debra Haaland (D). Haaland was confirmed as secretary of the interior on March 15 by a vote of 51-40. The special election will be held on June 1. There will not be a primary; instead, each party's central committee will select a nominee. The deadline for party nominations and declarations of intent for write-in candidates is April 6.


Congress is in session

Both the House and Senate are in session next week. Click here to see the full calendar for the second session of the 117th Congress.

SCOTUS is in session

The Supreme Court will hear three hours of oral arguments next week. To learn about the 2020-2021 term, click here.

WHAT'S ON TAP NEXT WEEK

Here's what is happening in Federal politics this week.

Saturday, March 20

Twelve candidates running in special election in Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District

  • Twelve candidates are running in Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District special primary election on March 20. The election was called to fill the vacancy left after Congressman-elect Luke Letlow’s (R) death in December 2020.
  • Candy Christophe (D), the only Democratic candidate running in the primary, and Julia Letlow (R), the widow of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, received the most media coverage leading up to the election. Chad Conerly (R), Allen Guillory Sr. (R), Robert Lansden (R), Jaycee Magnuson (R), Horace Melton (R), Richard Pannell (R), Sancha Smith (R), Errol Victor (R), Jim Davis (I), and M.V. Mendoza (I) are also running.
  • Before 2021, Louisiana’s 5th District was represented by Ralph Abraham (R). In the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) received the most votes in the district over Joe Biden (D), 65% to 34%. Louisiana's 5th was last represented by a Democrat in 2004 when Rep. Rodney Alexander (R) changed his partisan affiliation from Democratic to Republican.
  • Louisiana elections use the Louisiana majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50% of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation. If necessary, the general election will be held on April 24, 2021.

Voters to decide special election in Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District

  • Fifteen candidates are running in a special election to represent Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House on March 20. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. The special election will fill the vacancy left by Cedric Richmond (D). On Nov. 17, 2020, then-President-elect Joe Biden (D) announced that Richmond would join his administration as a senior adviser to the president and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.
  • Approaching the election, Troy Carter (D), Karen Peterson (D), and Gary Chambers (D) received the most media attention. Harold John (D), J. Christopher Johnson (D), Lloyd Kelly (D), Desiree Ontiveros (D), Jenette Porter (D), Chelsea Ardoin (R), Claston Bernard (R), Greg Lirette (R), Sheldon Vincent Sr. (R), Mindy McConnell (L), Belden Batiste (I), and Brandon Jolicoeur (I) are also running.
  • Three election forecasters rated Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District Solid Democratic during the 2020 general election. Richmond won that election with 63.9% of the vote and was first elected in 2011. Since 2000, the seat has been occupied by a Democrat in all years except 2008-2010, when it was held by Joseph Cao (R).
  • Louisiana elections use the Louisiana majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50% of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation. If necessary, a runoff election will be held on April 24, 2021

Monday, March 22

Supreme Court scheduled to hear three hours of oral argument


Where was the president last week?

  • On Monday, Biden remained in Washington, D.C.
  • On Tuesday, Biden was interviewed by George Stephanopoulos in Darby, Pennsylvania. He then went to his home in Wilmington, Delaware.
  • On Wednesday, Biden returned to Washington, D.C.
  • On Thursday, Biden remained in Washington, D.C.
  • On Friday, Biden visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and met with Georgia Asian American leaders in Atlanta, Georgia. He then returned to the D.C. area and departed for Camp David, Maryland.

Federal Judiciary

  • 72 federal judicial vacancies
  • 0 pending nominations
  • 28 future federal judicial vacancies


About

The Tap covered election news, public policy, and other noteworthy events from February 2016 to February 2022.

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